The Book of Kells

Roger Stalley

Majuscule

Evangelist symbols Angel of St Matthew folio 27v

Unfinished folio
Book of Kells

Vellum: purchased by a monk

But if you take the trouble to look more closely, and penetrate with your eyes to the secrets of the artistry, you will notice such intricacies, so delicate and so subtle, so close together and well knitted, so involved and bound together, and so fresh still in their colourings that you will not hesitate to declare that all these things must have been the work, not of men, but of angels.

Gerald of Wales c. 1185

At Kells in 1006/7 The great Gospel of Columcille, the chief relic of the western world was wickedly stolen during the night from the western sacristy (erdam) of the great stone church at Kells on account of its wrought shrine. (Annals of Ulster)

N.B. Columcille founded Iona in 563 AD Monastery at Kells founded c. 807 AD

Deadline? Nobody told me anything about a f deadline

Martyn Turner

c.563 Iona founded by St Columba

Basic structure: four Gospels Matthew LIBER Mark Luke John INITIUM QUONIAM IN PRINCIPIO

Book of Durrow QUONIAM

Cathach (Royal Irish Academy) c 600 AD

Basic structure: four Gospels Matthew LIBER Mark Luke John INITIUM QUONIAM IN PRINCIPIO

Preceded by folio showing the four symbols Matthew Mark Luke John angel lion calf eagle

Evangelist symbols Book of Kells folio 27v

Basic structure: four Gospels Matthew LIBER Mark Luke John INITIUM QUONIAM IN PRINCIPIO

Preceded by folio showing the four symbols Matthew Mark Luke John angel lion calf eagle

Also portraits of the evangelists Matthew John

St John Book of Kells fol 291v

Basic structure: Folio 27v Folio 28r Folio 28 v Folio 29r

Matthew Gospel

symbols of the four evangelists blank portrait of Matthew Opening initial LIBER

Iona

Book of Kells, Chi Rho initial (fol 34r)

Celtic curvilinear ornament (ultimate La Tne) Book of Durrow

Celtic curvilinear ornament (ultimate La Tne) Book of Durrow

Birds, cats and dogs after the Book of Kells

Luke 21. 11-17 PONITE . Settle it therefore in your hearts

Luke 21. 11-17 PONITE . Settle it therefore in your hearts

Discovered 20th July 2006 Copy of the psalter, found in a bog at Faddan More (Tipperary)

nemo servus potest duobus dominis servire. Luke 16.13-15

Fol. 253r

No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. Luke 16.13-15

TUNC ABEUNTES PHARISSAEI CONSILIUM FECERUNT UT CAPERENT EUM IN SERMONE Then the Pharisees, going out, took council as to how they might ensnare him in his words
Matthew 22.15

QUONIAM

Opening of St Lukes Gospel QUONIAM

Pangur Ban

9th century

I and Pangur Ban, my cat, 'Tis a like task we are at; Hunting mice is his delight, Hunting words I sit all night So in peace our tasks we ply, Pangur Ban, my cat and I; In our arts we find our bliss, I have mine, and he has his. Practice every day has made Pangur perfect in his trade ; I get wisdom day and night, Turning Darkness into light.'

Scribe B

scribe 185v scribe CA

Scribe D

Scribe B

scribe 185v scribe CA

Scribe D